THE MEDIA: OPERATION “DEOLIGARCHIZATION”

Oleksandr Chebanenko, an expert on the law enforcement and judicial systems reform programme of the UIF, has listed the main steps that must be made by the state to conduct a real deoligarchization of media.

We suggest to get a view of the basic possible steps that must be made by the state to conduct real deoligarchization of media.

– ensuring transparency of ownership structure, including disclosure of ultimate beneficiaries;

– reforming current legislation regarding access to information;

– mandatory public reporting by the media on the shareholding structure, management and financing – annually and on the eve of elections;

– the obligation to sign collective labour agreements in the media (with mandatory conditions prohibiting media management from dismissal of journalists and editors without a valid reason, deterioration of wages and social security, etc.).

– introduction at the legislative level of restrictions on the amount of compensation from the media – to prevent their liquidation on a by-order basis;

Also, it is necessary to adopt comprehensive legislation on lobbying as soon as possible – to ensure greater transparency and professionalism in relations, including this area.